July 2006

Satyananda Yoga Golden Jubilee 19562006

In this issue we pay special tribute to Swami Satyananda
Saraswati, who began his yoga mission in 1956, with the establishment
of the International Yoga Fellowship Movement in Rajnandgaon. The subsequent
expansion and success of his mission in both India and abroad is captured
in a selection of articles, newspaper extracts and tributes.

Guru Seva

From the teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati

The first step on the spiritual path is selfless service of the guru.
Serving the guru is the corner stone of the citadel of immortality. Discrimination,
dispassion, and aspiration are the pillars. Eternal bliss is the super
structure. Serve the guru, the poor and the sick. Guru seva is worship
of God. Never forget this. Purify the intellect. A pure intellect helps
you to reach the door of intuition and attain self-realization.

Aspirants should direct their whole attention in the beginning towards
the removal of selfishness by protracted guru seva. Serve your guru with
divine bhava. Guru seva and self-surrender to guru open the heart, expand
the consciousness and deepen the spirit. Guru seva is the means by which
the mind is prepared for meditation. Guru seva will not hinder your practice
of meditation. On the other hand, it purifies your heart and helps you
in meditation.

God can best be served or worshipped through guru seva. An hours
guru seva with divine bhava is worth more than a years pilgrimage
to tirthas. Guru seva alone can purify your heart and fill it with divine
virtues. Guru seva alone can take you to the door of intuition and the
realm of infinite bliss. Through guru seva, develop the heart and clean
the mind. Cheerfully serve your guru who is God in disguise. The secret
of sadhana is guru seva. It is the guide post to emancipation.

Live to serve the guru. Be prepared to do willingly any work assigned
by him. By doing so you will develop your willpower. Serve him humbly,
willingly, unquestioningly, unassumingly, ungrudgingly, untiringly and
lovingly. There is no such thing as menial service in guru seva. Every
form of seva is worship of God. The more energy you spend in serving your
guru, the more divine energy will flow into you.

One who serves the guru serves the whole world. Serve the guru without
selfish ends, without expectation of name, fame, power, wealth, etc. Unless
a disciple serves the guru with bhava and purifies his heart, he lives
in vain. His meditation will not bear fruit. The world is burning with
misery and suffering. You are caught up in the wheel of samsara. Wake
up! Approach the guru. Serve him with love. Serve untiringly. This will
purify your heart. You will attain liberation and everlasting bliss.

Serve your guru with heart and soul, with burning love and a fiery spirit
of sacrifice. The salt of life is service to guru. The bread of life is
devotion to guru. Guru seva is your way, love of guru is your ideal and
his grace is your light.